1904 St. Louis Louisiana Purchase World's Fair Exposition Medals


1904 St. Louis Louisiana Purchase World's Fair Exposition Medals
All of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition award medals were designed by Weinman and struck by the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia. The various award medals had different overall shapes, but common central designs. The Engraver's Notebook (U.S. Mint at Philadelphia) for 1906: 3,300 Grand Prize 9,000 Gold Medal 11,550 Silver Medal 10,000 Bronze Medal 6000 Commemorative (same as Gold award but with Commemorative in tablet on reverse All of the medals were issued in the new bronze alloy, which was at first called "government bronze." The inscriptions on the tablets noting the award as "gold medal," "silver medal," etc. are merely descriptive and do not refer to the type of metal used. Some have original box.
Grand Prize Medal No Image Yet. / Louisiana Purchase / Exposition.1904 St. Louis World's Fair Hendershott 30-90. Bronze, 74.3 mm x 60.2 mm, 149.7 gm.
1904 St. Louis Gold Award Medal. A lovely bronze metal. Designed by Adolph A. Weinman (who later designed the Walking Liberty Half Dollar and Mercury Dime), as one of his earliest commissions for a struck medal. The engravings and medals were struck by the U.S. mint in Philadelphia. The obverse of the medal depicts two female figures above the date MCMIV (1904). The tall taller figure is Columbia, with her arms spread wide holding the United States flag. The youthful maiden at her side represents the Louisiana Purchase Territory. Emblematic of her reception into the union, the maiden is divesting herself of the cloak of France, the material decorated with bees, the emblem of Napoleon. In the background is the rising sun, marking the dawn of a new era of progress to the nation. Encircling the two figures are the words "Universal Exposition - Saint Louis - United States of America." The reverse shows an architectural tablet inscribed with "Gold Medal" and "Louisiana Purchase Exposition". Below the tablet are two dolphins symbolizing the nations' eastern and western boundaries, the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Above the tablet is a large eagle with its wings spread. The inscription reads "Gold Medal (Silver and Bronze Medals were also given out) Louisiana Purchase Exposition 1904". In addition to the medal a diploma of award was also given to the recipient. The medal weights approximately 3.5 ounces. The medal is shaped as a 3-point shield, with 14 stars around the border and a wreath on each point. The wreath in the upper left corner has the letters "US" (representing the United States), the wreath in the upper right corner has the letters "NJ" (representing Napoleon and Jefferson), and the wreath in lower point has a Fleur de Lis. More on gold medal
		1904 Silver Award MedalBronze metal 2-1/2 inches square. Same design within the circle as other award medals.
		1904 Bronze Award Medal Sales Prices Noticed Jan 2008 $381 Ebay
As you can see, the Bronze award medal is round with the same design as other award medals. This weighs approx 105 grams and measures 2.5" in diameter. Box.

Commemorative Award Medal
Large Official Award Medal, from the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis Worlds Fair. This is the "Commemorative Medal" struck at the United States Mint, and designed by Adolph A. Weinman. It is the second lowest mintage of the five Award Medals given by the Exposition Jury, only the "Grand Prize" medal has fewer struck. Pictured on the obverse of the medal is the standard image which appears on all the five medals, and the reverse is the same as the other medals, except for the inscription on the tablet which reads "Commemorative Medal, Louisiana Purchase Exposition." It is struck in Bronze, Triangular in shape, approximately 2 3/4" by 2 3/4" in size,and is in AU condition.
St Louis Exposition Links Terry's 1904 Word's Fair Page Louisiana Purchase Exposition So-Called Dollars

Expo Medals Home 1876 1893 1895 1897 1901-1902 1904 1907 1909 1915 1939 also 1881 1883 1887 1898	If you would like a link to your Ebay or other listing, contribute images for this site. Copyright 2007-2008 ExpoMedals.com, Robert Fowler